The Ministry of Balaam's Donkey

Balaam beat his donkey three times. According to Balaam's experience, his donkey is not obeying his command and is acting weird, so he beat his donkey for obedience. Meanwhile the donkey was acting weird because its path was being blocked by an angel and so it was just trying to continue walking by swerving right and left to avoid collision with the angel. Balaam cannot see the angel and so he didn't understand why the donkey did what it had to do.

In the end, the donkey suffered beatings it doesn't deserve. This is not fair and God opened the donkey's mouth that it could ask Balaam why it deserved the beatings. Balaam simply replied that the donkey deserved the beatings because it wasn't obeying and threatened slaughter as well. The donkey asked again if Balaam is now doubting its loyalty and service over the years and if it was in the habit of doing this and Balaam replied No. It was then that God opened Balaam's eyes to see the angel. God further explained that had not it been for the donkey, Balaam would have been killed and so not only the donkey didn't deserve the beatings, he had actually saved Balaam. Balaam confessed his sin soon after.

Having read the passage, it seems that some of us Christians are called into the ministry of Balaam's donkey or the ministry of receiving torment we do not deserve for God's glory to sow the seed of salvation in the individual who tortured us. This usually happens when we are the first one to be a born again christian in our family and we are not the highest authority in the family's hierarchy. Like the donkey our eyes has been opened and we could see the angel and walk accordingly to avoid calamities, but before the eyes of the world, we are acting weird and even not obeying the authority. Perhaps it is the situation where we are not following our parents' dark business practices which is acceptable in the eyes of the world but not before God or it is the case of lifemate selection where before the eyes of the world riches are far more superior than God's promises.

God's time however, is always ready to reveal the truth and if we humbly serve with persistence, God will 'open the person's eyes to see the angel' and it will be revealed that not only we do not deserve the treatments we receive, but we have actually saved him/her, just like Balaam's donkey. Confession of sin, and a new born-again disciple will be the sweet closing dessert of the ministry. Now are the beatings worth it for the donkey? I think definitely! Someone's salvation is totally worth the every single stroke lashed and besides, what could be be worse (and greater) that what Jesus went through on the cross???

For God is not unjust to forget your work and love that you have shown to His people and continue to show to His people